The story is told of a man whose five year old son was constantly interrupting him as he read the newspaper. Finally, in desperation, he tore off a page of a magazine with a world map and ripped it into small pieces, telling his son not to come back until he had reconstructed the map. He assumed he had gained himself a few hours of respite, however, fifteen minutes later the boy returned and gleefully announced that he had finished the task. The father was astounded and asked “How could you put the map together so quickly and accurately?” “Dad”, the little boy replied, “it was simple. On the other side of the map was a picture of a person. I simply put the person together and the world fell into place.”
We find this message in the Torah portion of Naso that we read a few weeks ago and this week in Parshas Korach we see how it plays out when you are not at peace. The Ralbag (Rabbi Levi ben Gershon 1288-1344) on Parshas Naso explains the juxtaposition of the sections of that Parsha to teach that when it comes to peaceful relations there is an order. In order to have peace with others, you have to have peace in your home, and in order to have peace in your household, you have to be at peace within yourself. (For further details send me an email)
Korach was not at peace with himself, nor was he at peace at home. His wife was badgering him to seek more honour and authority, he himself decided he wasn’t happy with just being a regular Levi. As a result he started a rebellion against Moshe.
Rabbi Zev Leff points out that the Gemara tells us that one who sees a river in a dream should expect to find Shalom – peace. The river is beautiful when it flows within its banks. When it overflows its banks and goes beyond its boundaries, it becomes destructive. Shalom requires a person to recognize his own boundaries and to realize that everyone has a unique place in the world. I have my role and you have yours. Each of us contributes to the greater good and I don’t have to fill your role to achieve the goal.
Korach wanted something he was not entitled to. Not only was it destructive for him, but it was destructive for the entire Jewish people. We can find our own inner peace by being the best we can be with the life we have been given.
When we can be at peace with ourselves, our homes can be at peace and ultimately the entire world.
